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During the 2020 Isom Creek fire, a firefighting line was built from the Dalton Highway that crossed state lands and entered the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, ending at the Yukon River. Firefighters' awareness helped prevent the spread of invasive plants during the construction of the firefighting line and when the line was in use. Invasive plant seeds were likely removed during firefighters' gear refurbishment time in-between assignments, by washing, drying and airing out of firefighting gear, and by general daily awareness of the condition of fire boots and clothing.
Near the end of fire suppression operations, Dale Woitas (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and Andrew Allaby (Alaska Department of Natural Resources) worked with the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and fire crews to establish barriers to the firefighting line. Barriers included planting willows as living barriers and placing boulders at the Dalton Highway to deter unauthorized off-road vehicle use on the line after the fire.
The Isom Creek Fire burned 12,149 acres (7,112 acres of State of Alaska managed land, 4,146 acres of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service managed land, 858 acres of Tribal land and 33 acres of Bureau of Indian Affairs managed land). Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge staff are thankful to fire crews for their work to prevent invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species introduction and thankful to state and federal agencies that worked together to protect the refuge, more than six Native allotments, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, and the Dalton Highway Corridor.
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